Information
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, describing the summit as a key step toward fully restoring strained bilateral relations. Lee emphasized rebuilding trust and advancing the two countries’ strategic cooperative partnership after years of tension over issues such as North Korea, regional security, and maritime disputes. He expressed hope for a “new phase” in relations and pledged to work with Beijing on practical approaches to peace on the Korean Peninsula, acknowledging China’s influence over Pyongyang. Xi echoed the need for dialogue to manage differences, stressing that both nations share responsibilities and common interests in maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia amid growing global uncertainty.
The visit marks Lee’s first state trip to China and the first by a South Korean president in six years, signaling a softer diplomatic approach under his Democratic Party of Korea, which traditionally favors closer ties with China compared with the conservative People Power Party. During the summit, the two sides signed multiple memorandums of understanding covering technology, trade, transport, and environmental cooperation. Lee was accompanied by senior business leaders as part of an effort to deepen economic ties with South Korea’s largest trading partner, and his agenda includes further meetings with Chinese economic officials and a visit to Shanghai to promote commercial collaboration.
Source: AFP, Reuters
So What
This political shift appears to be a direct response to former President Trump’s policies, which have prompted some countries to reassess their strategic alignments. While it is unlikely that China will fully supplant the United States as the dominant global power, it may increasingly compete with Washington for regional and international influence. Nevertheless, the United States is unlikely to alter its overall approach as long as Trump remains in power, suggesting continued strategic friction and limited prospects for policy convergence in the near term.
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